Connector for electrochemical apparatus.



PATENTEO OOO. 23,1904. i O. P. PRITOHLE. OONNEOTOR POR OLEOTROOHBMIOALAPPARATUS.

APPLIG'ATION FILED DEG. 2B, 1903. i

No MODEL.

Vynesses.'

UNITED STATES Patented August 1904.

PATENT Ormes,

CONNECTOR FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL APPARATUS..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,175, dated August23, 1904.

i Application filed December 28, 1903. Serial No. 86.875. (No model.)

Bc it known that l, OLIVER 1).FRITCHLFL, a citizen ot' the UnitedStates, residing at Denver. in the county of Denver and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful improvements inConnectors for ElectrochemicalgApparatus, of which the following is aspeciiication.

This connector is especially intended for use with storage batteries,electrolytic cells, and other apparatus requiring` an easily-detachableconnector which will resist the action of corrosive liquids and fumes. Y

The connector comprises mercury cups, preferably of copper plated withnickehwhich are secured to the electrodes', a coupler, pref-- erably aheavy copper wire or rod sheathed with lead except at its ends, the endsof the sheath being grooved and formed into bulbs and the ends oi' thewire being nickel-plated, and soft-rubber sleeves which fit closely uponthe mercury-cups and the bulbed ends of the coupler sheath and havepunctured diaphragms to receive the ends of the couplerwire, butautomatically close when the coupler is withdrawn, thereby preventingthe cscape of mercury.

Referring to the accompanying' drawings,

Figure l is a vertical section through the connector and the upper endsof two electrodes joined thereby; and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionthrough the -connector with its several elemerts detachech but inposition to be assemble y The connector comprises a mercury-cup 1,preferably of copper plated with nickel orA some other metal which isinsoluble in and non-absorbent of mercury. The cup is secured to theelectrode 2 by an integral threaded stem 3. `When the connector is usedfor lead storage batteries, the stem is tinned and' cast into a lug e atthe upper end of the electrode. The mercury-cup has external annulargrooves 5 and is partly filled with inc rff cury 6. Y

The coupler 7 consists of a heavy copper wire or rod 8 covered with alead sheath 9 except at the ends l0, which are received by themercury-cups. The lead sheath may be cast on the copper wire, this beingpreviously tinned. The exposed ends 10 which enter the mercury areplated with nickel. rllhe lead sheath has grooves 11 near its ends andthe ends are formed into bulbs 12. The exposed ends 10 oi'thecoupler-wire should be ot' considerably less diameter than that oi'the recesses in the mercury-cups and should not cxtend to the bottom ofthese cups. This not only prevents the coupler from displacing' themercury from the cups. but allows either electrode to vibrate withouttransmitting the vibrations to the other electrode, the coupler beingsupported entirely by the rubber sleeves. The connector is thusespecially' serviceable for use. with autoniol )llc-batteries.

Each oi' the soft-rubber sleeves 13 has a lower central bore le, whichlits closely upon the mercury-cup and usually prevents any electrolytefrom creeping up the cup. As a further precaution, an acid-prooi' greasemay be placed in the cup-grooves 5 and around the electrode-lugs 4. Eachsleeve also has an upper central bore 15, which receives and titsclosely upon the lead bulb 12 ot' the coupler '7, preventing anyaccidental dislodgrnent of the coupler. Between the bores 14: and 15 isan intcgraldiaphragm 16, which is centrally punctured to receive the end10 ot the coupler-wire when forcibly inserted. but to automaticallyclose when the coupler is with drawn` thereby preventing` any escape otmercury from the cup.

This coupler has been found to be entirely prooi' against the action ofthe acids and fumes of the ordinary lead storage battery, remains inperfect condition without attention, pernzits the elements to be easilyuncoupled, and avoids the broken connections lwhich occur when theelements are rigidly connected by lead strapsjlused together.

L/n electric connector, comprising a merters said cup, and a carrier offlexible, nonconductive material supporting said coupler with its endwithin but out oi' contact with said cup, as set forth.

52. An electric connector, comprising a mercury-cup, a coupler having anend which ente; said cup, and a sleeve of flexible, nonconc mfyr-cup, aeoupler having an end which enductive material carried by said cup andsupporting said coupler with its end within but out ol' contact with thecup, as set forth.

3. An electric connector; comprising a mercury-cup, a coupler having anend which enters said cup, and a rubber carrier supporting said couplerwith its end Within but out of contact with said cup, as set forth.

Ll. An electric conn ector, comprising a mercury-cup, a coupler havingan end which enters said cup, and a rubber sleeve carried by said cupand supporting said coupler with its end within but out of Contact withthe cup, asset forth.

5. An electric connector, comprising an externally-grooved mercury-cu p,a coupler having an end which enters said cup, and an elastic sleeveinclosingsaid cup and coupler end, as set forth.

6. An electric connector, comprising a mercury-cup, a coupler having anend which enters said cup and an annular groove near its end, and anelastic sleeve inclosing said cup and coupler end and entering saidgroove, as set forth.

7. An electric connector, comprising a mercury-cup, a coupler having anend which enters said cup and a bulb near its end, and an elastic sleeveinclosing said cup and bulb, as set forth. .8. An electric connector,comprising an externally-grooved mercury-cup, a coupler having an endwhich enters said cup and a bulb near its end, and an elastic sleeveinclosing said cup and bulb, as set forth.

9. An electric connector, comprising a mercury-cup, a coupler having anend which enters said cup, and an elastic member carried by said cup andhaving a perforated portion to receive said coupler end but close whenit is Withdrawn, as set forth.

l0. n electric connector, comprising a mercury-cup, a coupler having anend which enters said cup, and an elastic sleeve inclosing` said cup andcoupler end and having a perforated diaphragm which will close when thecoupler withdrawn, as sel' forth.

l1. An electric connector', comprising an externally-groovcdAmercury-cup, a coupler having an end which enters said cup and a bulbnear its end, and an elasticslceve inclusing said cu p and bulb andhavingl a perforated diaphragm to receive said coupler end but closewhen it is withdrawn, as set forth.

1Q. An electric connector,comprisingamerf cury-cup, a coupler having anend which onters said cup and a sheath of non-corrosivel metal, and anelastic sleeve inclosing said cup and coupler end, as set forth.

13. An electric connectoncomprisinganicrcury-cup, a coupler having anend which cnters said cup and a sheath of non-corrosive metal, saidsheath having a bulbed end, and an elastic sleeve inclosing said cup andbulbed end, as set forth. A

14. An electric connector,comprising a mercury-cup, a coupler having anend which enters said cup, said coupler consisting of a cop- `per Wirehaving a tinned body portion anda lead sheath cast thereon, andanelastic sleeve inclosing said cup and coupler end, as set forth.

'15. An electric connector,coinprising a mercury-cup havinga stem coatedwith tin and surrounded by a lug of cast lead, a coupler having an endwhich enters said cup, said coupler consisting of a copper wire havingatinned body portion and a lead sheath cast thereon, and an elasticsleeve inclosing said cup and coupler end, as set forth.

16. An electric connector,comprisinga mercury-cup and a coupler havingan end which enters said cup, said cup and coupler. end coated Withnickel, as set forth.

1n testimony whereof l ax my signature in presence of two witnesses. -nOLVER P. FRTCHLE.

nWi tn esses FRED G. HANSEN, Vf. H. GOETZEMAN.

